On Friday, JP Morgan Chase announced that it is going to drop a $10 service charge that it added to certain credit card accounts earlier this year.

Chase is also refunding $4.4 million that it already collected. Chase said the reason for the reversal and refund is customer feedback.

"Credit card issuers have been very active during the first few months of 2009--raising rates, adding fees, and lowering credit limits. The addition of a $10 monthly fee by Chase really angered its cardholders and they loudly objected. This was essentially a $120 annual fee and a terrible deal for consumers," says Bill Hardekopf, CEO of LowCards.com and author of The Credit Card Guidebook.

Having fought to reform the credit card industry for over two decades, Dodd wrote the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act, a version of which he introduced in 2004, to provide tough new protections for consumers who are treated unfairly by their credit card companies, some of whom are encountering financial ruin as a result.

Dear Attorney General, it has come to my attention that the University of Connecticut has received an allotment of tickets from the NCAA for the Final Four basketball tournament in Detroit, to be held next week.

At appear that UCONN has contracted with a company called World-Tek for the distribution of these tickets, as it has in past years.

However, this year World Tek is requiring the purchase of a "travel package" in order to sell tickets that have been allocated to the University. This appears to me to be an illegal "tie", in violation of state and federal anti-trust laws in that World Tek has a monopoly on the sale of tickets, and is requiring the purchase of another product (hotel accommodations) to obtain the tied product.

Given the short time frame in which citizens of Connecticut will have an opportunity to purchase tickets, I would request that the attorney general take immediate action to stop this apparently illegal activity.

A California blogger launched his 10-part investigation into the Los Angeles area Better Business Bureau tonight by providing details on how one of the largest non-profit chapters spends its money and how it raises it.

Normally, I would not bother you with suggesting that you read a new blog from an unknown person in California who doesn't even disclose his real name (probably for legal reasons).

But if you have an interest in the Better Business Bureau as a consumer or as a business person, I highly recommend you read "Jimmy Rivers" and his neutral sounding blog www.bbbrounup.com, which started up after the BBB launched its controversial new nation-wide A+ to F rating system in January, replacing its previous satisfactory - unsatisfactory ratings.

Jimmy, a former journalist, now businessman, started his blog as questions were raised by consumer columnists and advocates, including myself. His blog has been accurate from what I have seen and his series promises to uncover unsavory marketing techniques used by the LA BBB, where the new rating system was tested for years before going nationwide.

In his first blog tonight, Jimmy discloses that more than one third of the bureau's 100-person staff is used for telemarketing, more than for any other aspect of its operation, including investigating complaints. He says he has a confidential source with inside knowledge of the operation.

But the thousands of unfortunate people who have been robbed of their hard-earned money by this outfit must think of it more like the hippopotamus of the wild-- vicious and unpredictable.

Leslie Bivans of Bloomfield is an example of a BlueHippo victim. A hardworking corrections officer, Bivans got into a financial jam and her credit rating tanked. She wanted a computer but couldn't pay cash for it, and financing was not possible.

A little more than a year ago she saw a television ad about how easily anyone with poor credit could get a computer by simply making a few payments up front to prove they are worthy of financing.

A few years ago we bought a stove at Lowe's: a Jenn-Aire 30 inch slide in downdraft glass top electric range. We purchased the extended warranty.

This past Thanksgiving, the glass cracked at one of the burners.

We called Lowe's, got in touch with one of their authorized service people. Since we had the extended warranty, no problem getting a replacement top. We waited and waited. Finally they told us it was on back order.

Then, a few weeks ago, Lowe's called to say that the part was unavailable, and they were giving us a gift card for the original purchase price, plus sales tax.

ATTORNEY GENERAL TO FED CHAIR: STOP ADDITIONAL $230 MILLION IN AIG BONUSES SLATED FOR PAYMENT

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal -- in a letter today -- urged Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke to block another $230 million in AIG bonuses slated for payment, saying no Connecticut law impedes such action.

Earlier this week, Bernanke, echoing AIG's public reasoning for paying taxpayer-funded bonuses, told Congress that Connecticut's wage protection law prevented him from compelling AIG to block the bonuses.

Blumenthal said he respectfully disagrees with Bernanke's statement that Connecticut law requires AIG to make these payments, and urges immediate federal action to block the $230 million in bonuses.

Meanwhile, Blumenthal said that his office will continue to work with a coalition of state attorneys general to investigate AIG, including the details of the company's collapse, the possible misuse of federal bailout money, and compensation that encouraged financial gambling in derivatives like credit default swaps.

Complaint to Attorney General Richard Blumenthal from a parent who was targeted by Norwalk Ct based Interface Talent company., which has an F rating from the BBB. The complaint details how Interface uses high pressure tactics to fleece the poor. It is similar to other complaints I have received against this company.

"I am writing this letter to you because I have recently had an experience with what appears to be a huge scam that is clearly affecting a number of people within the state of Connecticut. I apologize if my story seems at all long, but I really feel that it is necessary to explain as much as I can.

A few weeks ago I was approached by a woman in the Buckland Mall who was recruiting for a talent agency named "Interface Talent Network LLC".

She stated that my 2yr old son would be perfect for modeling, and asked me to fill out a card for a "free evaluation".

I figured why not, and filled out the card. A few days later I received a phone call from another woman (Nina) asking me to bring my son down to their office for a "free evaluation". She explained what we needed to bring - 3 photos of him, along with 2 forms of ID from both myself and my husband. For some reason, it was imperative that both parents be there.

On Sunday, March 15th, my husband and I dragged our son and our 2mth old daughter all the way down to South Norwalk to meet with these people - mind you, it was an hour and a half drive for us.

We met with a woman named Janixx Patrisi, who really seemed to like our son, as well as our daughter. She was positive that both of our children would do very well in the "modeling industry".

Converting to ATT's U-verse (after receiving weekly ads and offers for several months)

1) Spent one hour on phone in February setting up U-verse.Told to be home for six hours, starting between 12 and 2 p.m. today (March 18)

2) Called 1 800 288 2020 at 10.00 a.m. on March 18 to confirm, my order was checked with my password and I was told that installation would be today, March 18, as scheduled.

3) I waited but nobody came. I called the above number at 1.40 p.m. and at 2.05 finally got a supervisor in Rocky Hill, K...., who agreed that I would not have to pay for the first month's service. K....'s number is 1 860 450 3480. At 2.40 p.m., I am still waiting for resolution...

At 6:10 p.m. on a frigid Dec. 13, the last employee leaving Mainline, a
heating supply store in the boonies of Ashford, closed the electronic
gates that help keep secure hundreds of thousands of dollars in stoves
and other alternative heating equipment stored at the property.

Forty
minutes later, a convoy of a dozen trucks from a Virginia energy
services company took a right turn into the company's driveway and
blasted through the metal gates and their electronic controls.

The crews from MasTec were in Connecticut last year to help restore electricity knocked out by an ice storm.

The
store's security monitors showed at least one man getting out of the
first truck, walking toward the gate, then getting back in the truck
before barging through the gate.

The cameras also recorded the
trucks in the parking lot for a few minutes before they left, driving
through the now-open gate, with some of the trucks missing the
25-foot-wide driveway, leaving tracks on the lawn.

On paying for their meals, they believed that they had given the cashier a $20 bill; however, the change returned by the cashier reflected that they had given a $10 bill.

When they questioned the cashier and suggested that he may have mistakenly given change for $10 instead of for $20, he disagreed. Not being absolutely certain, and rather than argue about the uncertainty, my wife and daughter left the restaurant.

On Sunday, March 22, they again visited Brazil & Pizza. After eating, they approached the cashier to pay their bill.

Much to their surprise (as well as to most of us), he remembered them and said that he had made a mistake the previous Tuesday in giving them change for $10, rather than for $20.

The only thing I find more disturbing and distasteful about executives getting bonuses for pushing the world dangerously close to a depression is pundits and politicians using the bonuses to inflame the public without thought to unintended consequences.

Now I don't expect much better from most politicians. Whipping up public anger against real or imagined threats and outrages goes back thousands of years as a proven way to distract attraction to what is wrong closer to home.

Its a lot more fun to grill AIG CEO Edward Liddy - who is only accepting $1 a year to try to clean up the mess created by his predecessors - than to have hearings about how Congress nine years ago voted unanimously to permit the kinds of side bets AIG and other financial companies made to the tune of 50 trillion dollars and got us into this mess.

Those side bets - unregulated and uncontrolled - were illegal until then and carried criminal penalties.

Would Congress care to have hearings about how, despite plenty of warnings, it abolished the Glass-Steagall Act and permitted the formations of giant banks we now cannot allow to fail?

But what I am really disappointed is in the fourth estate. 60 Minutes, the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, CNBC and Business Week, among others have published or ran insightful, educational, and enlightening pieces.

But too many cable tv correspondents, bloggers, and columnists - most who can't tell the difference between an annuity and a mutual fund - feel a need to add their two cents about how these bonuses are the crux of all our financial problems.

Where were these journalists when many men (never a woman) each got hundreds of millions of dollars in annual paychecks whether their companies lost of made money?

Because of the financial situation of their companies, these journalists are under tremendous pressure to "break" stories, have "exclusives," write columns and blogs that attract reader attention. Its eyeballs that count more than content and context.

What we all need to keep in mind is that if the financial system is not stabilized because the public will riot at the mention of another federal loan to banks, there will be even less jobs, especially for journalists.

Valarie Hawk-Hoffman, owner of Sunrise Herbal among many other Internet businesses, has won a major battle to keep all the $1.39 million which she and her husband received after they sold their Bethel, Ct., mansion.

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal attached the sale proceeds as part of his suit against Hawk-Hoffman was is accused by hundreds of her customers of stealing from them by making unauthorized charges on their credit cards.

She and her husband now spend their time between their 15,000-square foot ocean front home in Maine (you can rent the space over the garage though not everyone who has stayed here was pleased) and in the Palm Beach area of Florida.

She is also involved in litigation with a supplier who claims she stiffed him for more than $150,000.

The battle in Hartford Superior Court was over Hawk-Hoffman's attempt to dissolve the attachment of which Blumenthal said at least $90,000 is intended to repay "Connecticut consumers allegedy scammed by her and her company as well as forfeitures to the state."

The suit, claiming that despite Best Buy's policy of matching lowest prices from other stores, it has a secret policy of teaching its workers how to deny customers lower prices.

The suit, brought by Michael L. Braunstein of the New York firm of KANTROWITZ, GOLDHAMER & GRAIFMAN, P.C., includes depositions from former employees claiming that they were aware of thousands of customers being improperly denied price matchings.

Those wanting to join the lawsuit can email Braunstein at 747 Chestnut Ridge RoadChestnut Ridge, New York 10977Tel: (845) 356-2570Fax: (845) 356-4335www.kgglaw.com

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal today announced an investigation into the business practices and questionable science associated with Acai berry products -- primarily pitched by Internet-based companies as a wonder treatment for weight-loss.

Blumenthal's office has received numerous consumer complaints related to Acai berry purchases, and is investigating with other states.

There is no competent scientific research that demonstrates any of the claimed effects of Acai berry, including weight loss, detoxification and increased energy and vitality, Blumenthal said.

After promising 14-day "free trials" of Acai berry products, the companies often make it virtually impossible for consumers to cancel the trial, resulting in charges to consumer credit cards ranging anywhere from $59 to $89.

Even worse, some consumers never even receive the product within the trial period -- making it impossible to try the product before deciding whether to cancel.

In a federal court ruling that could be devastating to Best Buy's public image, the largest electronics retail chain in the country will have to fight a class action lawsuit accusing it of having a secret "Anti-Price Matching Policy."

Details are contained in a Southern New York district federal lawsuit which contains claims from former Best Buy employees including from Juan Ortiz, who was a supervisor at three Connecticut Best Buy stores.

The class that was approved for this suit includes anyone living in New York who after purchasing an item from Best Buy, found the same item cheaper, and was denied the lower price guarantee.

Ortiz claims that each Best Buy store denied, under management orders, more than 100 legitimate customer price match requests per week.

"Furthermore, Best Buy's own records reveal that the price match guarantee was applied inconsistently and 60 percent of customer requests to match warehouse club prices are wrongly denied," the judge ruled last week.

The judge's decision also mentions how Best Buy had a secret intranet site in its stores which was used by salesmen to deny sales prices offered in its bestbuy.com internet site.

That scam was disclosed in Watchdog columns starting in February 2007 and there is still a pending lawsuit against Best Buy on this issue by Ct Attorney General Richard Blumenthal.

Those wishing to join the suit can contact the plaintiffs lawyer, Michael Braunstein at mbraunstein@kgglaw.com.

I am a Pharmacist in Connecticut and I work for one of the big national chains.

Dispensing errors in pharmacy, unfortunately, are a continual concern not only for the pharmacy owner but also for the involved pharmacist.

While the greatest effort is always made to protect the health of the patient, errors happen. In the case of the error cited in your report, It should have been handled directly by the pharmacist on duty that day.

Failure to do so results in the loss of confidence of the patient, who has already suffered by the mistake, as well as the opportunity to reassure the patient that, while errors can occur, their error will not be disregarded or swept under the rug but rather be examined to determine it's cause.

Thankfully in your reported case, no harm came to the patient but in all cases of dispensing errors, their causes must be examined and remedies sought to avoid future events.

David, a Southington resident, went to his local CVS pharmacy on Feb. 19 to pick up his first prescription for paroxetine, the generic form of the anti-depressant drug Paxil.

Luckily, David looked closely at the bottle he received before leaving the store and saw that it contained prednisone, a drug frequently used for arthritis.

How often does that occur? Only the pharmacies know, and they have no intention of sharing that information with you or me.

David, who asked not to be identified by his last name, filed a complaint with the state Department of Consumer Protection. He said he has medical conditions that would have been "adversely affected" if he had taken the prednisone tablets.

David said he was upset not only by the mistake but also by the pharmacist's reaction to it.

"I suffered no harm, but I feel very strongly that pharmaceutical errors should receive more attention than a shrug of the shoulders," David said.

The Better Business Bureau took a high risk gamble in early January by revising its historic simple to understand "satisfactory-unsatisfactory rating system to a nuanced A+ to F grading system which gave "accredited (dues paying) members higher scores than non accredited members.

Several consumer advocates, including myself, were skeptical from the beginning for several reasons. The change just had an odor of pay to play because about it as 80 percent of the BBB's funding comes from dues from accredited members.

As we all dug into the new system we found numerous inconsistencies and some real head scratches that in the best light showed the the Bureau was not capable of giving such nuanced grades to millions of businesses and in the worst light that this was a way of pressuring companies to pony up hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year in dues.

A California Web site, http://www.bbbroundup.com, is serving as a repository of some of the more outrageous ratings and governmental actions challenging the bureau and its rating system. Its editor, who is doing some of the investigating himself, uses a pen name.

If you have a pony in that race, or are interested to watch how one of the potentially more useful consumer tool is going through a meltdown, go to the site and check the latest postings.

The letter grading system is not a work in progress. It was tested for four years and was launched, BBB officials claim, because consumers were clamoring for it.

Even if that were true, I doubt that consumers understand that each bureau office only has a handful of employees and they don't have the time or expertise to properly handle the thousands of complaints each receive, much less give nuanced ratings.

So keeping in mind that all BBB offices are to follow the same rules, plugging data from each company into a :"secret" 16 variable algorithm to come up with fair ratings, here are some recent gems:

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal announced today that his office has demanded that AIG provide his office a list of bonus amounts and recipients, as well as copies of contracts and other information related to their payment.

Blumenthal said that he will take steps to enforce the subpoena issued today by the Department of Consumer Protection, or others, if AIG fails to provide the information promptly.

"I have asked AIG to provide my office a complete list of bonus recipients and amounts, as well as related contracts and legal interpretations," Blumenthal said. "American taxpayers -- who own more than 80 percent of AIG -- have a right to this information, and I will subpoena the company to compel release if necessary. AIG must come clean to its owners -- the American people.

"I urge AIG employees to do the right thing and give back every penny. They do not deserve this money, and they did not earn it.

"AIG was categorically wrong when it claimed that state labor law compelled payment of these outrageous, unconscionable bonuses. A provision in Connecticut law requiring double payment for failure to pay wages does not apply to the AIG bonuses. AIG shamefully used this joke of a justification -- totally lacking legal merit -- to reward financial failure and fiasco.

"I'm angry that AIG relied on a bogus legal interpretation of Connecticut law to richly reward employees whose monstrous, monumental failures destroyed the company and helped undercut the economy. These employees should be shoved out the door, not showered with cash."

Blumenthal sent AIG a letter Wednesday seeking information on the bonuses. The letter asks the company to provide the requested information promptly. AIG has not responded as of today.

Part of ongoing series examining the least-transparent energy business in the country: propane gas.

Like most residential propane gas customers, the town of Somers assumed its supply company was charging a fair price, and for the past 20 years or so, the town simply wrote out checks for whatever the bills were.

But with the economy in a tailspin and budgets needing to be slashed, the town's volunteer fire chief decided this winter to check if the town could do better, considering it uses as much as 8,000 gallons of propane a year.

Fire Chief Edward F. Pagani Jr. and the rest of the town's officials were stunned by what he discovered: By shopping around, the town was able to cut its propane bill by more than half.

Now, before you start berating Pagani or other town officials for not taking action sooner, you need to understand the propane game.

Unlike heating oil dealers, propane companies don't advertise their prices, nor will most even tell you what their price is if you call them. They don't have to. Why? Because they have their customers over a barrel.

The propane industry -- in the guise of worrying about propane customers' safety -- convinced the legislature and fire marshals in Connecticut, and every other state that I know of, that only the OWNER of a propane tank can fill it. For the consumer, that means that unless you own your own tank, you must have it filled by the company you rent it from.

Step two on the part of the industry was to do whatever it could to discourage homeowners and businesses from owning their own tanks.

It is our policy not to discuss proprietary customer information with anyone other than our customer.

Superior Energy offers customers competitive prices in a competitive market place. Propane is a commodity and like other commodities, the pricing of it at retail, can fluctuate and be influenced by regional factors.

Some retail customers feel they are paying a price that is either higher or lower than the current "market" price. Those that feel they are paying a lower price are happy and we seldom hear from them.

Those that feel they are paying a higher price, oftentimes express concern and ask us for an explanation.

In reality, there is no set "market" price for propane. The price of propane throughout the country is market driven and heavily influenced by local competition.

Bristol, RI - March 16, 2009 - The Propane Gas Association of New England (PGANE) came out in support today for proposed legislation that would ensure propane consumers have clear, written contracts that explain the details of any agreement with propane companies.

House bill 6470, which was introduced by the General Law Committee of the Legislature, would require plain language in contracts used by propane companies to help consumers make informed choices.

PGANE President and CEO, Joe Rose, applauds this legislation, citing that "it will institute best practices of consumer protection for the industry and ensure that all propane companies are following the same rules for fair competition."

Rose indicated that the industry has been working with the Attorney General's office for several years on this legislation.

The legislation would require real estate agents to provide a disclosure statement regarding the ownership and contractual obligations regarding a propane tank on a property to any prospective buyer as well as limit the types of additional fees that propane companies can charge consumers.Recent news coverage has focused on the difficulties some consumers have had with their propane company.

State Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said today he has filed a lawsuit against Customer Basements of Connecticut and its co-owners on charges that they ripped off several customers and subcontractors by tens of thousands of dollars.

Shelly Dacey and Nicole Klesman, both of Glastonbury, were listed as defendants along with their company. The suit, filed in Hartford Superior Court, does not specify how many money was involved or how many became victims.

The two, along with their company, were honored last November by the Connecticut Better Business Bureau last November with the Torch Award, given to companies that meet the bureau's highest standards.

Blumenthal, who was the guest speaker at the award ceremony, has demanded that bureau provide his office with documentation on what actions, if any, the bureau took to vet the company prior to presenting it with the award, which was used by the company to solicit more business.

Why should Wal-Mart and Target charge more for big men's clothing than for regular sizes?

"Any items such as shirts that are size 2X, 3X, or higher will be a couple dollars more. This practice has become even more distasteful now that the economy has gone bad and many people are out of work including me. Is there something that can be done; isn't this practice discriminatory?"

I don't think its discriminatory, but wonder if small sizes cost less?

From Jake Kniska, a former Kirby salesman who says he too was ripped by a Kirby distributor in Connecticut:

I am a college student trying to earn money to go to school. I worked at stop n shop in the summer of 2008, until my job was cut due to cutbacks. At the time no jobs were available. I stumbled across an ad in the newspaper for Quest distribution paying starting at $500 per week for customer service.

At the interview, I was told by one of the managers SETH ROSZMAN that i would make $500 per week answering customer questions about cleaning products working 9am-5:30pm.

I was told training would be paid by SETH ROSZMAN. But the manager above him named MATT O'CONNOR informed me that I wouldn't.

Another manager in charge of setting up work for the new employees named CHARLIE O'CONNOR informed me that I was to perform 15 vacuum demos per week.

O'CONNOR claimed that I would make $500 per week even if I did not sell any vacuums. My first week I performed 20 demos. 5 more than the required 15.

On January 21, 2009 we booked a vacation online through the Sandals Resort web site. At the time of purchase, travel insurance was promoted directly as a "recommended" way to prevent our travel investment (ref Item 1 in the attachment).

As the economy is on a downward slide and all our family income is tied to Financial Services, $200 to guarantee $3,200 looked like a reasonable deal. Unfortunately, as of last week my wife's salary has been cut by 35% and it is quite possible further reductions will be forthcoming.

Therefore, it was decided that this trip for our 15th wedding anniversary was less important than ensuring the future financial stability of our family.

The national Better Business Bureau's claim that its new A+ to F rating system was instituted to help consumers will be tested by a skeptical Connecticut attorney general who is annoyed that he agreed to speak at a bureau event last November honoring a business now under investigation by his office.

Last week, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal "requested" that the Better Business Bureau turn over all documents relating to the selection of Custom Basements of Glastonbury for the bureau's Torch Award at a time when the business was allegedly defrauding customers and subcontractors.

The Torch Award, given annually for "marketplace ethics," was presented Nov. 14 to Custom Basements, a now defunct remodeling firm.

Blumenthal said Thursday that if the BBB does not provide adequate answers he will subpoena the information. He gave the organization a deadline of March 28. He said he considers the BBB to be part of his investigation into the company.

In his letter to Paulette H. Scarpetti, president of BBB Connecticut, Blumenthal also said he wanted answers about the new national rating system, which grants letter grades ranging from F to A+ instead of the historic satisfactory or unsatisfactory ratings.

He questioned what impact being a dues-paying, accredited member of the BBB has on grades awarded, including whether those businesses receive special treatment. Most of the bureau's funding comes from annual dues that can be thousands of dollars.

Scarpetti said she will cooperate with the investigation and noted that Custom Basements' license was renewed Dec. 1 by the state Department of Consumer Protection.

She declined to comment on the rating system, saying any response should come from the national office. Public relations officials from the national office did not respond to e-mailed questions sent Thursday and Friday.

I'm sure you've heard this one before but in days like this when the State of CT should be doing everything it can to encourage residents to consume I was surprised to find this scam.

Just bought a new car - a Toyota that carried a $1500 'rebate' which was really a discount because the car dealer deducted $1500 in figuring what I owed him for the car. I was surprised to see that the CT sales tax was calculated on the price I paid the dealer plus the $1500 discount.

When researching this, I found an 'OLR Research Report' which seems to 'justify' this practice based on the fact that 6 of 7 nearby states bilk their residents in the same way (http://www.cga.ct.gov/2006/rpt/2006-R-0189.htm .)

I can understand why CT must collect sales tax on rebates that must be submitted by the consumer after the purchase, but, in the case of this car, the rebate is simply a discount from the manufacturer to the dealer that has nothing to do with the consumer. I would not have bought the car without this discount or if I had to wait for Toyota to send me $1500 after I bought the car.

And if the state can artificially inflate the purchase price of the car to determine the sales tax, then it can put any sales tax it wants on any purchase without any real basis in fact.

Some enterprising law firm should really put the CT sales tax law to the test in court with a class action suit based on say 10 years of this scam and make a nice fat fee.

The Better Business Bureau in Connecticut has quietly stopped giving letter grades to more than half of the businesses it monitors -- reversing a controversial practice instituted by the national organization.

The shift, made here and throughout North America, comes only a few weeks after the national BBB announced a radical change from its longtime practice of rating businesses either "satisfactory" or "unsatisfactory" to issuing letter grades from A+ to F.

The national organization said that it was instituting the new letter-grade ratings to provide a quick snapshot of businesses' reliability for the millions of consumers who regularly rely on its reports to decide whom to hire.

But the Jan. 6 change was criticized by a couple of consumer columnists, including me, because it appeared to unfairly reward dues-paying "accredited" businesses at the expense of good businesses who decided against paying hundreds of dollars (or thousands, depending on their size) in annual BBB membership fees.

The following are the questions I raised with the Connecticut Better Business Bureau on the revisions to its new rating system and the answers it provided.

Q) How many companies in Connecticut are now not rated?

A) 52,421 as of March 9, 2009. The reason they are not rated is because they don't have activity in the form of inquiries or complaints.

A 'company name" may be in the CT BBB database but more information is needed to deliver a grade and a report. Unless the company completes a business questionnaire, has more than 5 inquiries in a given year, or more than 1 complaint it remains inactive and is not rated (NR).

State Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, in a highly unusual move, late today requested documentation from the Connecticut Better Business Bureau (BBB) on how it decided to award its highest prize last November to a company he and prosecutors are investigating on fraud charges.

Blumenthal also questioned in his letter to BBB president Paulette Hotton Scarpetti how and why the BBB nationally developed its new rating system.

Blumenthal wrote that Custom Basements of Connecticut, a Glastonbury firm, was allegedly bouncing checks to subcontractors last summer months before the Torch award was presented.

"Our investigation shows that the company has since closed after taking tens of thousands of dollars from customers and failing to finish renovations," he wrote her.

Governor M. Jodi Rell and the co-Chairs of the Legislature's Banks Committee - Senator Bob Duff and Representative Ryan P. Barry - today announced they have reached agreement on legislation that would make mediation a mandatory part of all real estate foreclosures in Connecticut, a move that could sharply reduce the number of borrowers losing their homes.

The new legislation builds on changes Governor Rell, Senator Duff and Representative Barry developed last year that expanded mediation services offered through the Judicial Branch.

Under that change, more than a quarter of recent foreclosure proceedings have gone to mediation - and about 70 percent of those cases have been resolved amicably, without the borrower being forced to leave the home or the lender forced to take over the property.

Under the new legislation, mediation services would be required in all foreclosure cases. The service funded with money already assigned to the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority to help deal with the subprime mortgage crisis.

The company that did the reval is Total Valution Service which has done a poor job in Two other towns Washington and Torrington according to The Voices News Paper.

There is talk of throwing out the revaluation in the other towns. But here in Monroe they are trying to correct the problems,

Also the assessor here has thrown out all of the sales that she decided are to low, arms lenght transaction, which have skewed the data and has inflated her data, these transactions take place in every city all the time.

Now we are being told that land values have gone way up and we are being hit with large tax increases at a time when the economy is in free fall.

The region's largest biotechnology association today warned that four bills under consideration today by the Connecticut Legislature have the potential to drive away biotech investment and jobs from the state unless they are rejected.

The New England Biotech Association (NEBA) serves as the regional policy and public affairs voice for the biotechnology and biopharmaceutical community, representing state biotech associations, companies, academic institutions, and other organizations consisting of more than 800 entities, including over 100 in Connecticut.

The association today submitted testimony at a joint hearing of the Public Health, Human Services, and Insurance & Real Estate Committees in opposition to Senate bills 1046, 1048, 1049, and 1050, which collectively restrict information sharing and marketing in the industry.

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and Healthcare Advocate Kevin Lembo today called for a prohibition against drug company gifts and other benefits provided to doctors that may improperly influence health care decisions.

Blumenthal and Lembo were joined at a press conference announcing the legislation today by Jean Rexford, executive director of the CT Center for Patient Safety; Dr. Steve Smith, Board of Directors of the National Physicians Alliance and Medical School Professor, Brown University; and Elizabeth Foley, outreach manager for the Consumers Union.

Pharmaceutical drug companies spend more than $11 billion annually to market prescription drugs -- most of it directed at health care providers. Research has repeatedly found that such gifts influence health care provider decisions.

The pharmaceutical industry, hospitals and physicians groups have adopted "codes of ethics" to prevent conflicts of interest -- but Blumenthal and Lembo said these codes are virtually unenforceable and meaningless, and must be made law.

Rita from Torrington, Ct says she is one of the seniors who got ripped off by a Kirby salesman and wants to complain about Kirby.

"I am 77 years old and had not used it since i bought it in April.

It is too heavy for me to use (25 pounds) and I can't cart it up the stairs since I live in a two story house.

From the Watchdog

I have forwarded her complaint to the Ct Department of Consumer Protection where I am sure they will require Kirby to follow its policy to permit returns for up to one year for those over 67 or disabled.

I am a 73 year old woman----I also am the sole caregiver of my husband, who has Altzeimer's Disease and is78 years old---however, I never thought that I may have had a bad judgement as far as money----BUT, I was wrong!!!

After reading your very interesting article in the Hartford Courant, I feel that I need to tell you about MY experience with the Kirby vacuum cleaner company!!!!

Last October 9th I had an appointment with a VERY nice young salesman named Mike----he came to our home to "clean my carpet", and, after a couple of hours, I signed a sales agreement with him to the tune of 1200 00 plus tax, (1272.00) on my credit card ---this was put through on the following day, according to the bill.

Since I have a problem with my back, I cannot even maneuver the vacuum, let alone LIFT the darn thing!!!! I have not used it all season because of this!!!! My son, (a very strong 47 year old man-)-loves it!!! He came over once and vacuumed for me.

Anyway, I sent a certified letter to the company stating that the salesman not only did not leave me the box for it, but sold me a machine that was CLEARLY scratched and shopworn, but also took my year-old Oreck with him! And to please come and take the whole thing back, credit my card, and bring me back my Oreck!

March 6 - An Enfield heating and cooling contractor will pay more than $3,400 in restitution to consumers who paid deposits for work that was not completed before he closed his business.

Robert Bryda, 54, of Enfield, operating under the name of Alexander Sheet Metal/Mechanical, took monies for a contracted job but failed to complete the work before he suddenly closed his business.

The victims had to pay another contractor to have the work completed.

Mr. Bryda was ordered to pay $3,403 in restitution to the victims under the terms of Accelerated Rehabilitation granted to him by the Honorable Judge Robert G. Gilligan in the Superior Court for Housing Matters at Hartford.

I just received a letter from Capital One raising my credit card interest rate from 9.99 to 17.9. Their attitude was take it or cancel the card.

I have never been late on any bill in my entire life and have paid the Capital One card balance one week early on-line in full.

My credit is great. The interest rate goes into effect in one year. I'm sure you will be hearing about this from others. Can you imagine having a large balance and getting this in the mail.

I'm 66 and its my belief that the Credit Card companies are punishing the good payers to make up for those defaulting.

I also got a letter in the mail from Chase charging me a $10.00 a month fee.

I have a $13,000 balance and am paying it off on time every month. They also raised the minimum payment from 2% to 5%. The interest rate is 6%. They said theywould remove the fee if I agreed to pay a rate of 7.9%.

TESTIMONY OFATTORNEY GENERAL RICHARD BLUMENTHALBEFORE THE GENERAL LAW COMMITTEEFEBRUARY 24, 2009

I appreciate the opportunity to support House Bill 6470, An Act Concerning Residential Heating Oil and Propane Contracts.

This legislation requires heating oil or propane gas suppliers to have written contracts with consumers if there are charges or fees in addition to the unit price per gallon. Such contract may not exceed three years in duration.

The legislation also allows for a delivery surcharge for service outside the delivery area or outside the normal business hours without a written contract.

The written contract must be in plain language and shall not include any liquidated damages amount beyond the actual damages to the retailer because of the consumer breach of the contract.

Electronic contracts that comply with the Connecticut Electronic Signatures Act and its federal counterpart will satisfy the written contract requirements.

Making great financial sacrifices for their children's education is the norm for many immigrant families.

So it wasn't unusual that Wei Zheng and her husband, Chinese immigrants who live in Glastonbury, scrimped and saved to afford $10,000 for tutoring their children in a local private school.

But the school, the WHIZard Academy for Mathematics & English of Glastonbury, shuttered its doors without warning earlier this year.

The family appears to have little chance of being reimbursed for the $7,491 in remaining credits they had with the company.

They can't even get a response from the owner -- Michael O'Donnell -- on an update as to what alternatives are available to the parents. He has not provided the parents with his personal phone number, or the name of his attorney.

I have been reading your columns on the propane gas industry and fully understand what people are going through.

I had owned a house in Burlington, CT during the late 1980's and the 1990's that used propane for heat and hot water.

Fortunately, the 500 gallon in-ground tank was owned by the home-owner and I had a certificate of ownership. We found that piece of paper was like gold, and quickly put the local propane dealers in their place. We found that they did not like to be just a delivery service. We did finally find a company in Windsor, CT that would deliver and fill without any complications.

I am now in a different house in Burlington, since 2000, and this is were I experienced the dark side of the business.

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal today announced that USI Consulting Group, Inc. (USICG) has agreed to pay $470,000 and adopt sweeping business reforms to resolve allegations that it accepted concealed compensation from insurers in exchange for access to lucrative pension plan business.

Today's settlement money will go directly to Connecticut's General Fund.

USICG, headquartered in Glastonbury, is part of USI Holdings Corporation, the ninth largest property and casualty benefits broker in the United States.

Since at least 1998, in connection with certain Single Premium Group Annuity (SPGA) insurance contracts, USICG received hidden payments from The Hartford Insurance Company, The Principal Financial Services Group, Inc., and Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company -- insurers that Blumenthal has previously settled with.

In exchange for these hidden payments to USICG, the insurers received competitive information and "last look" bidding opportunities not provided to carriers that declined to pay the secret compensation.

I think there is a new scam that you may want to warn people about...its calls from 407-000-4712. Apparently someone tells you they can lower your credit card rate...all you need to do is give them your credit card number.

We received a call from this number, but chose not to answer it (since it looked sort of shady), and I googled the number and got a lot of bad info about them (I always google suspicious looking numbers...or any number that hangs up on me). Some comments are:

"wanted to know if I want my interest rate lower on my credit card. I ask what card where they talkin about,would not give me a answere. I ask for a number to call them back, they said for security reason,they couldn't give me one, they wanted to cll me back. I said I was leaving would not be here. Then they just hung up."

It would be nice if someone took action against the Cable Companies in Connecticut. They are as bad as the oil Companies when it comes to greed for the services they provide.

It seems our legislator know their is a problem, but choose to do nothing about the monopolies they have been able to create.

They charge a 180.00 service termination fee. Seems very stiff when someone looses their job and can't afford to pay their outrageous prices.

They offer bundled discounts to new customers and pass the costs on for their discount to existing customers when the bundle packages expires for the existing Customer ( backdoor rate increases) They offer no choices for the stations you really want.

You have to take their packages that include many stations you never watch. Time for an overhaul of the Cable companies.

Below is an e-mail that I wrote to the Attorney General of the State of Connecticut and his response where his hands are tied by the Federal Government, so I forwarded my e-mail onto Senator Liberman and Senator Dodd.

I purchased through Dell Direct a XPS1330 laptop which was delivered to our home the week following Christmas.

The laptop which due to the fact it cannot connect wirelessly to my home router is rendered unusable for my purposes.

I have spent hours on calls with Technical Support in foreign countries, have had Installations Inc. (Dell's approved home network installer) and their sub-contractor, Theatre Extreme in East Longmeadow assisting.

In short, they cannot determine the problem and have suggested its probably a conflict with my Airport Base Station (home router) that had not been previously diagnosed. Nor is there a workaround.

The two fixes proposed were Installations Inc. would request a new router be provided by Dell which would allow the computer to connect or return the unit.

According to Installations Inc. the former request has been ignored by their Dell contact, and the latter (which I had tried myself and was denied) when voiced by the company rep is greeted by the refrain from Dell, "sorry its past 21 days."

I have now made two payments under their financing plan, and still don't even have possession of the computer. And even if I did, it does not work as intended.

If you already filed your federal tax return and are due a refund, you can check the status of your refund online, in English or Spanish.

Where's My Refund? and ¿Dónde está mi reembolso? are interactive tools on the IRS Web site at IRS.gov.

Whether you split your refund among several accounts, opted for direct deposit into one account, or asked the IRS to mail you a check, Where's My Refund? and ¿Dónde está mi reembolso? give you online access to your refund information nearly 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

If you e-file, you can get refund information 72 hours after IRS acknowledges receipt of your return. If you file a paper return, refund information will be available within three to four weeks.

When checking the status of your refund, have your federal tax return handy. To get your personalized refund information you must enter:

If you or your spouse are a member of the military, you may be eligible to receive free tax return preparation assistance.

The U.S. Armed Forces participates in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program and provides free tax advice, tax preparation, return filing and other tax assistance to military members and their families.

The Armed Forces Tax Council oversees the operation of the military tax programs worldwide, conducting outreach with the IRS to military personnel and their families. The AFTC consists of tax program coordinators for the Marine Corps, Air Force, Army, Navy and Coast Guard.

Volunteer assistors at Military-based VITA sites are trained to address military-specific tax issues, such as combat zone tax benefits and the new Earned Income Tax Credit guidelines.

At 73 and living alone in southern Connecticut, she had started to lose her mental sharpness.

She is trusting. "She believes people. She is old-fashioned," her daughter, Laurie Esposito, told me. "She is a nice little Portuguese lady."

So it didn't take long before Esposito signed a contract Dec. 6 to buy a $995 vacuum cleaner.

Never mind that, at barely 5 feet tall, she and the 25-pound vacuum cleaner were about the same size. It also didn't matter that she couldn't even move it, much less use it.

Rios told Esposito that he would soon return to show her how to use the vacuum, according to Esposito's daughter. It never happened.

Esposito is one of many victims of Kirby's high-pressure sales techniques, which frequently hurt those who can afford to be scammed the least -- the elderly and those with a diminished mental capacity. They are the ones more likely to allow a young man or woman into their home to provide a "free carpet cleaning." Some also fall for, "Can I just come in and use your phone for a second?"

With the help of hundreds of readers we have won many victories for consumers in Connecticut and sometimes nationally over the past 20 months through the Watchdog columns. Through the blog I will be able to post your reaction to columns, get advice from you ... read more